I was asked by a stranger today how many grand kids I have...the answer is none..I was asked if I have kids and the answer is none....I was asked why do I do the Ride To Remember Jennifer Short each year for the last 11 years.I think of the Short family that lost their brother ,sister and niece and I put myself in their shoes on how I would feel to know that no one has been caught for killing 3 people.I do photography at all the local high schools and see how all the kids play sports and grow up in the community and I wonder what would Jennifer have grown up to be at BHS.Each year I see 4-6 students get the 500.00 scholarships and it makes me proud to know that her name is being kept alive.Each time I go down to the bridge with Jennifers name on it and I always become teary eyed to know someone shot a child in the head and threw them off of the bridge.Until the last few yrs you could see the yellow crime tape still around the marsh.Seeing the stuffed toy bears on the bridge makes you realize that a special child was taken from us.The last few weeks I have asked,begged and done all I could to get people in the community to come support the ride.Tonight and today I have heard every excuse on why they cant attend because its church,moving, or other plans.Well I am thankful to all that can manage to take 5 hrs out of their busy life to show everyone that we still remember losing a family out of our town.I want to give thanks to the ones that do sacrifice so they can come to the ride to show support.Tomorrow will be 12 years seeing our community come together.I will see Bob drive from Winston for his 10th year and I will see Larry Lackey drive from Charlotte to show his love for this family.I want to tell the ones that have always supported this ride how proud I am all of you.Tonight I met 8 people from Ontario Canada that told me how lucky they felt to be in our town and to be a part of this ride.I wish everyone else that lived here felt the same as strangers that I have seen this week.I want this ride to always be positive but I sure hope no one will ever lose a family like the Short family has.I love everyone in the community and I am proud of all of you that give to this event each year.Today I seen Joe Bryant and asked if he had a cooler and tonight I come home and there is a cooler on my step.I cant wait for tomorrow to come so the Short family can see we have not forgot and we support them with this ride.Special thanks to the newspaper reporters who usually have Sunday off but take time out to cover this rideRandy Hundley thank you my friend for taking a vacation day to show how much this ride means to you.Victory Baptist Church thank all of you for working overtime to make sure we have a good place to finish the ride.TRASH Ministries thanks for bringing tears to my eyes for giving me the envelop with the 200.00 donation today.Again thank all of you for keeping the Jennifer Short Ride Alive.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 02:55:43 +0000
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